Australia - Fertiliser firm to fluoridate region

Fertiliser firm to fluoridate region
Jessica Benton
28th May 2009 03:21:41 PM
GEELONG fertiliser company Incitec Pivot will provide fluoride for the region’s water supply despite plans to close its North Shore plant, according to the company.
Incitec Pivot’s Stewart Murrihy said the company would continue producing flurosilicic acid at Portland after closing the plant.
“We can guarantee that we will continue to be able to supply flurosilicic acid,” Mr Murrihy said.
The iconic Geelong fertiliser plant will shut on June 30 amid falling demand for fertiliser.
A spokesman for the Department of Human Services confirmed Pivot would supply flurosilicic acid for addition to the region’s tap water.
The spokesman said fluoride was “a naturally occurring mineral” sourced from natural deposits in Victoria.
The Independent reported earlier this month that a Geelong anti-fluoridation group expected the chemical to start flowing through the water supply as early as July. A DHS spokesperon told the Independent fluoridation of the region would begin in the “second half of the year”.